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2-6 Players How To Play Wild cards take the Prize pile often if you can. Taking the Prize pile is easi- that the pile is frozen, remember to place discarded wild or avoid big penalties should your partner still have many cards
You are dealt a hand of 11 cards before each round of play. On There are 12 wild cardseight little and four big. The only est when the pile is not frozen. Its tougher when the Prize pile is cards at right angles in the pile, so they will be visible after left in hand.
each turn, you first draw a new card orif you cantake the en- difference between the little and big wild cards is their scoring frozen and before your partnership has made its first meld. subsequent discards. Before melding, you may ask your partner May I go out?
tire Prize pile (the discards). You place, face up on the table (meld value. A wild card can take the place of a natural card in any set, Tip: Freezing the Prize pile limits any players ability to take the Your partner must answer yes or no, and the answer is binding.
from your hand), sets of cards to score points. Sets are three but a set must always have more natural cards than wild cards. pile. This is an important strategy in this fascinating game. If the answer is no, you cant go out. If yes, you may go out.
Before Your Partnership Makes Its First Meld
or more cards of the same rank, such as four Kings, six Fives or For example, this means you may have only one wild card in a You may take the up card* ONLY if: If you dont choose to ask, you may go out at will.
three Sevens. Sequences, like 5-6-7, are NOT permitted in Ca- set of three cards. Once melded, a wild card cannot be moved you use it in a meld of 3 cards by combining it with two other Playing Bonus Cards
nasta. You may add to your sets during play. This is important to a different set. Wild cards can never be melded in a set of natural cards of its rank from your hand, and If you draw a Bonus card, place it face-up near your teams melds, Tip: Its a good idea to ask if you think your partner may be hold-
because youll need at least one set of seven or more cards (called their own. As noted above, wild cards freeze the Prize pile when you meld enough other cards to meet the first meld and immediately draw a replacement card. If you forget to play ing many high value cards (which will reduce your score).
About Canasta Caliente Complete a Canasta) in order to go out. Wild cards can be substituted for theyre discarded. requirement. a Bonus card, you may do so on a subsequent turn and draw a
cards you need in a meld and they can also be used to freeze the Card Values The Play replacement card at that time. If you forget to play a Bonus card The hand ends immediately after a player goes out. Points are
In 1950, after sweeping north from South America, Canasta be- Bonus cards and Stop cards (4 of each) cannot be melded in *Remember: You cannot use other cards in the Prize pile towards
Prize pile (very important!). Bonus cards and Stop cards have Each cards scoring value is found to the right of its index number. The player to the left of the dealer plays first. Then, play passes to when the hand ends, you are penalized 100 points for each Bonus then totaled.
came the biggest card game craze ever. Canasta means basket the usual way. Bonus cards are melded immediately upon being your first meld requirement.
special purposes. To end your turn, you always discard one card the left. Play continues until one player plays the last card in hand card in hand.
in Spanish and the game was named for the little wicker basket drawn. Stop cards are discarded to prevent the next player from
to the Prize pile. You end the hand (go out) by playing your last First Meld Requirement and goes out. Play is as easy as 1-2-3: You may never discard a Bonus card. The only way a Bonus What Happens if the Draw Pile Is Exhausted?
that the first players used to hold their cards. This edition fea- taking the Prize pile. They can only be melded as a set when go- After Your Partnership Makes Its First Meld
card. Your team will score points for each card melded and may The first meld laid down by either member of a partnership must card can get into the Prize pile is if it was turned up at the If you do not go out after drawing the last card in the Draw pile,
tures custom cards that not only celebrate the heritage of the ing out.
also be entitled to bonuses (or penalties!). On a single winning be worth at least a certain number of points. This depends on 1. To begin your turn, draw the top card from the Draw pile or 1. If the Prize Pile is not frozen you may take the up card if: beginning of the hand. play continues as long as each successive up card is properly tak-
original game, they also make the game easier to learn and more
hand, your team might score less than five hundred points, but Scoring cards are handy to refer to when totaling scores. your teams score at the beginning of the hand: take the entire Prize pile (see Taking The Prize Pile). you can use it in a new meld of 3 cards by combining it with en. The hand ends the moment a player goes out or passes.
fun to play! Rules are included for Standard Canasta (2-deck
your team could score in the thousands! two cards of its rank from your hand (one can be a wild), If you take the initial Prize pile and it contains a Bonus card, You may pass if you cant claim the up card or if you choose not
game), Samba Canasta (3-deck game), Hand & Foot Canasta (5- Card Melds 2. Next, you may meld cards (required if you took the Prize pile).
0 to 1495 points (start of game) 50 points or play it immediately. Do not draw a replacement card. tounless you are forced to take it. You are forced to take
deck game) and Caliente variations for all three.
The Cards Natural Meld 1500 to 2995 points 90 points 3. To end your turn, discard one card face-up onto the Prize pile. you add it to your partnerships existing meld of the same the up card if the pile is not frozen and you can add the up card
There are 108 cards in play. Be sure to remove both Caliente A set of 3 or more natural cards of the same rank. 3000 or more points 120 points rank. Bonus cards do not count towards your initial meld to your teams meld. Neither team scores the 100 point going-
Special note about card decks: Drawing Cards
cards. The Caliente cards are added to the deck when playing negative score (rare) any 3 card set requirement. out bonus when the hand ends on a pass. Note: If you draw a
In order to make it easier to separate the card decks (after play After drawing the top card from the Draw pile, if you are ableand 2. If the Prize pile is frozen you may take the up card (unfreeze
the Caliente variation (described in the Caliente section of the Mixed Meld Bonus card as the last card of the Draw pile, play it as usual. The
and shuffling) the backs of the cards either have the Canasta Cali- you want toyou may meld cards from your hand, forming new the Prize pile) only if you combine it with two natural cards
rules). A set that includes wild cards. No set may contain more wild Note: Bonus cards do not count towards your initial meld re- Playing Stop Cards hand ends; no further melds or discards are allowed.
ente logo printed in gold letters or white letters. If you are play- sets or adding one or more cards to your teams existing sets. from your hand and make a new 3-card meld. (Wild cards
cards than natural cards. quirement. Discarding a Stop card prevents the next player from taking
ing Standard Canasta, use the gold-lettered cards (two complete If your team has not yet melded, your first meld must meet the cannot be used to form a new meld with the up card when the
Natural cards the Prize pile. (They are not turned sideways in the pile.) Scoring:
decks). For Samba Canasta, use the white-lettered cards (three Canasta first meld requirement (see First Meld Requirement above). pile is frozen, nor may you add the up card to an existing meld
There are 88 natural cards (eight of each rank: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Start To Play. Read As You Go like you can when the pile is not frozen.) Your partnerships points are now totaled:
complete decks). For Hand & Foot Canasta, use all cards (five A set of seven or more cards. At least one canasta is required
Jack, Queen, King, Ace). You cannot meld Stop cards except when going out, and then 1. First, add the point values of all cards melded and subtract
decks). Remove the Caliente cards, if you are not playing this before your team can go out. The Deal
you must meld three or four of them. Wild cards cannot be the value of cards left in the hands of your partner and yourself.
variation, after sorting. Chose a dealer at random. After each hand, the deal passes to Remember: If you properly take the up card and meld, then you
added to a meld of Stop cards. (If you have just one or two Stop (Point values are found on the cards themselves.)
Natural Canasta the player on the left. The dealer shuffles the cards thoroughly, take the entire Prize Pile into your hand!
cards, youll need to discard them on separate turns before
RULES FOR STANDARD CANASTA A canasta which does not contain any wild cards. offers a cut, and then deals each player 11 cards. Players hold
going out.) 2. Next, add any special bonuses that apply:
their cards in hand. Bonus cards must be played immediately and Discarding To End Your Turn
4-Player Version Mixed Canasta 100 points if your team was the one to go out first.
replacement cards drawn (see Playing Bonus Cards). Place the End your turn by discarding one card from your hand onto the
Four players are teamed in partnerships. Partners sit opposite A canasta which contains at least one wild card. A mixed Ca- Going OutEnd The Hand 100 extra points for going out concealed-that is, either you
remaining deck face down in the tray to form the Draw pile. Turn Prize pile.
each other. The rules are only slightly different when 2, 3, 5 or 6 nasta may not contain more than three wild cards. A mixed Once your team has at least one Canasta, either you or your or your partner melded his/her entire hand in one turn,
over the top card of the Draw Pile and place it face up in the ad- Nothing special occurs when you discard a natural card
play. Youll find these variations following the main rules. Canasta scores fewer bonus points than a natural Canasta. partner may go out (end the hand) by melding the remaining cards including one canasta, and had not previously melded or added
joining compartment. This card, called the up card, is the start of (which youll typically do).
in hand or by melding all but one and discarding your last card. If any cards to partners melds. This rarely happens.
the Prize pile (discards). If the up card happens to be a wild card Taking The Prize Pile
How To Win Combine into one set all cards of the same rank that either you your team does not have a Canasta, you must keep one card in 500 points for each natural canasta
or a Bonus card, turn it sideways in the compartment (to indicate If you wish to take the Prize pile, you can only do so by using the Discarding a Stop card prevents the next player from taking
Score points by laying down and adding to sets of cards of or your partner melds. One partner keeps all of the partnerships hand after you discard. You may not go out. 300 points for each mixed canasta
the Prize pile is frozen), then turn over the next card of the Draw top card on the Prize pile (the up card) to make a meld. Having the Prize pile.
equal rank. 5,000 points wins and it usually takes a few hands melds. 100 points for each Bonus card, but only if your team has made
pile and place it on top of the Prize pile (until a natural card tops done so, you must then take the entire Prize pile (making more
to do so. Tip: It may not be an advantage to go out just because you can. its initial meld.
the Prize pile). melds likely). This is an exciting feature of Canasta; youll want to Discarding a wild card freezes the entire Prize pile. To show
You may be able to score more points by keeping the game going,
400 extra points if your partnership has played all four Bonus VARIATIONS RULES FOR SAMBA CANASTA Unlike in Canasta, an unfrozen pile may not be taken with RULES FOR HAND & FOOT CANASTA Melds Minimum Melds
cards and has made its initial meld. Exclusive Variation! CANASTA CALIENTE VariationPrize Pile Always Frozen Samba is a three-deck variation of Canasta. one natural card and one wild card (Samba requires two Melds consist of three to seven cards of the same rank. Round 1: 50 points are required to get into the game (can be
The word caliente means hot in Spanish, and thats just what Hand & Foot Canasta is a very popular variant of Canasta requir-
In this variation, the top card in the Prize pile can only be taken In this version, you can make sequences as well as sets. A natural cards). spilt between several melds). Round 2: 90 points; Round 3: 120
ing five decks of cards. Each player is dealt two hands of cards A Natural meld has no Wild cards.
3. PENALTY: If your partnership did not make its initial meld, any this exclusive Canasta variation offers: hot game play for any num- if: sequence is called a samba. A samba must be of seven cards in pts; Round 4: 150 pts.
Unlike in Canasta, an unfrozen pile may not be taken to add a known as the Hand and the Foot. The Hand is played first
Bonus card melded counts minus 100 points (a total of minus ber of players. Enjoy! A Mixed meld has 1 or 2 Wild cards.
a) you use it to form a set with two natural cards from your hand, numerical sequence and may contain no wild cards. card to a completed canasta. after which the Foot is picked up and played. If you are familiar
800 points if all 4 Bonus cards were melded). 1. Add the Caliente cards to the deck before the game begins. or, Samba follows the rules of Canasta in most regards. Once you A Wild meld is made up of all Wild cards.
In Samba, an unfrozen pile may be taken to add to an existing with regular Canasta, youll be able to quickly learn how to play CANASTA TERMS
A Caliente card, when played, enables a player with a depleted b) you add it to an existing meld of six or fewer cards but not know how to play Canasta, youll appreciate the differences be- When a meld reaches 7 cards, it is squared up (a canasta). For consistency sake, in these rules we use the terms Mixed and
sequence meld (unless it is a canasta). Hand & Foot. Here are the differences.
Scoring Example: hand to rebuild it to the exact number at the start of the round. to a completed canasta (7 or more cards)! tween the two versions, and the enhanced possibilities Samba No more cards can be added to it. One member of a part- Natural when describing certain melds and canastas. In other
You go out after melding three 7s, a mixed set of Jacks (two Jacks Standard Canasta = 11 cards, Samba Canasta = 15 cards, Hand Here are the only changes to standard Four-Player Canasta when offers. Minimum meld requirements: HAND
nership should keep completed melds; the other keeps the parts of the country the terms Dirty and Clean are used.
and one Big Wild), a natural canasta of eight 10s, a mixed canasta & Foot Canasta = 13 cards. two, three, five or six play: Heres whats different between the 4-player part- Total Score (Canasta) Total Score (Samba) Minimum
melds in progress.
of 5s (six 5s and one Little Wild). You have also played a Bonus nership versions of Canasta and Samba: Count Dirty or Mixed? Describes melds or canastas that contain Wild
card to the table. Your partner still has some cards in hand: a 5, 2. If you have a Caliente card in hand, you may play it face up on 2 Player Rules cards.
Samba uses three decks of cards (Canasta uses two). You can Negative Negative 15
the table near your melds instead of drawing or taking the up Bonus Cards
an 8, and a King. Heres your score: a) Deal 15 cards per player on each hand. separate three decks, from the five provided, by culling out 0 to 1495 0 to 1495 50 FOOT Clean or Natural? Describes melds or canastas that do not have
card. However, you can only do so if your team has not Meld these as soon as you draw them.
b) Each player plays for him or herself. those cards with the Canasta Caliente name printed in white 1500 to 2995 1500 to 2995 90 any Wild cards in them.
+ 15 points for the three 7s melded more sets than the opposing team (or either opposing c) When drawing from the Draw Pile, draw two cards. Discard on their backs. Remove the Caliente cards unless you are 3000 to 4995 3000 to 6995 120
+ 20 points for the two Jacks player, if playing a three-player game). one (as usual) at the end of your turn. Picking up the Foot
playing the Caliente option. N/A 7000 to 9995 150
+ 50 points for the Big Wild 3. Next, draw enough cards to bring your hand up to the total d) To go out, a player must have at least two canastas. When you get rid of all the cards in your Hand, you pick up your
Contact us: Winning Moves Games
Each player is dealt 15 cards (unlike the 11 in Canasta). Foot and continue to play from it. There are two different ways
+ 80 points for the eight 10s you started the game with. If insufficient cards are left in the 3 Player Rules A game-winning score is 10,000 points in Samba (5000 in Canasta). 75 Sylvan Street
+ 30 points for the six 5s Draw pile, take them all. If your hand has more cards than you When drawing from the stock, draw two cards at a time FOOT
this can happen. If you are able to meld all of the cards from your Suite C-104
a) Deal 13 cards per player on each hand. FOOT
Two canastas are required to go out in Samba (1 in Canasta). Hand, you can immediately pick up your Foot and continue your Danvers, MA 01923
+ 20 points for the Little Wild started the round with, you draw nothing. It doesnt pay to (as opposed to one in Canasta).
b) Each player plays for him or herself. turn. Discard one card at the end of your turn as usual. Or, if
+ 100 point bonus for Going Out first play a Caliente card when your hand is large. Creating a samba (a sequence of seven cards with no Wild HAND HAND
Sequence melds Three to seven cards in consecutive you meld all of the cards from your Hand except one, and then Phone: 800-664-7788 ext. 114
+ 100 point bonus for a Bonus card cards or Stop cards) earns a 1500-point bonus in Samba. FOOT
4. You may next meld cards (but may not play a second Caliente 5 Player Rules sequence are allowed. Cards rank (high) A-K-Q-J-10-9-8-7- Fax: 978-739-4847
+ 300 point bonus for a mixed canasta (of 5s) discard this last card, you pick up your Foot and begin playing with
card on this turn) and then discard as usual to end your turn. a) One team will have two players, the other will have three. 6-5-4 (low); no Stop cards or Wild cards are permitted in a There is a 200-point bonus for going out in Samba (100 points Email: wmoves@winning-moves.com
+ 500 point bonus for a natural canasta (of 10s) it at the start of your next turn. Youtube: youtube.com/winningmovesusa
b) One player on the three-player team sits out each hand. sequence. (Canasta does not allow sequence melds.) in Canasta).
= 1215 5. SCORING: A Caliente card will score minus 100 points if c) The player sitting out the hand may not advise his teammates
played. Thats the price you pay for drawing more cards. If you There is no bonus for going out concealed in Samba. Visit our website to download Canasta Caliente scoresheets.
Now subtract the value of the cards left in your partners hand: but does handle the scoring.
- 5 points for the 5 are caught with a Caliente card in hand at games end, you lose Going Out
There is a 1000-point bonus for holding all Bonus cards in
- 10 points for the 8 double the value of all cards left in your hand. If youre holding 6 Player Rules HAND Your partnership must complete 2 Natural canastas, 2 Mixed ca-
Samba (800 points in Canasta).
two or more Caliente cards, the loss is tripled! For example, if a) Form two teams of three players each. Deal nasta, and 1 Wild canasta.
- 10 points for the King
you hold cards worth 75 points and a Caliente card at games In Samba, Bonus cards count as negative points if the side does Two hands of 13 cards to each player. The first is known as the In addition, one member of a partnership must then completely
= 1190 Total Points b) Rules are same as 5-Player Canasta except one player from
end, your loss would be 150 points. If you hold two or more not create two canastas (in Canasta, the side only needs to create Hand and the second as the Foot. Play the Hand first. The Foot play out his Foot, while the other must have at least picked his
each team sits out each hand.
Next Deal Caliente cards, your loss would be 225 points! any meld). is not looked at; it remains face down, near the draw pile, facing Foot up and played from it. As in regular Canasta, you must ask
Example of a Samba (Note that in the previous list, Canasta (capitalized) refers to the you. You can pick it up and play it once youve exhausted the
The new dealer collects all cards and shuffles thoroughly before Note: if the only card you hold is a Caliente card, your loss is 0! 6 Player RulesThree Decks you Partners permission to Go out. He can say no (for scor-
a) You may elect to have two partnerships of three players each, One or two Wild cards are allowed in a meld (Canasta allows game, while canasta (lowercase) refers to a seven-card meld.) Hand. ing reasons, usually).
offering a cut and dealing as usual.
6. A Caliente card acts as a Stop card if discarded. three), although there must be at least two natural cards
or three partnerships of two players each. Each player is seated For more information about Winning Moves product safety
End of the Game Tips: Early in the game, you may confidently meld most of your between two opponents. in a meld. Scoring and compliance please visit
Play
When at least one team has scored 5,000 or more points at the cards if you hold a Caliente card. Later in the game, try to play a b) Deal 13 cards per player on each hand. No Wild cards may be added to a completed canasta (whereas Samba For 2,3, 5 or 6 players Very much like standard Canasta. The prize pile is always frozen. 1. You score the value printed on the cards in your melds. http://www.winning-moves.com/product_safety.
end of a hand, the game ends. The higher score wins. Caliente card if your team is behind and your hand is small. To- c) Play for 10,000 points. When a team reaches 7,500 points, it up to three may be added in Canasta). Although four-handed (partnership) Samba is the most common On your turn, you: 2. In addition, you score 500 bonus points for each Natural canasta,
wards the end of the game, discard a Caliente if you are close to needs 150 points to make its initial meld on subsequent hands. form of the game, for the most part, you can simply follow the 1. Draw two cards. CANASTA CALIENTE is a registered trademark of Winning Moves, Inc. All
There is no limit to the number of melds per rank per side in 300 for each Mixed canasta, and 1500 for each Wild canasta.
going out, especially if your team is in the lead. d) There is no extra bonus for having four Bonus cards, but five rules for 2 Player, 3 Player, 5 Player and 6 Player Canasta, substi- Rights Reserved. 2010 Winning Moves Inc., 75 Sylvan Street, Suite C-104,
Samba (only one is allowed in Canasta). 2. Meld or add to existing melds belonging to your partnership. Going Out earns 100 points, as does each Bonus card played.
or six Bonus cards add an extra 600 points. tuting the Samba differences as described above. Danvers, MA 01923. Colors and parts may vary. Made in China.
Stop cards left in hand count -5.
e) At least two canastas are needed to go out. A canasta must contain at least 5 natural cards (4 in Canasta). 3. Discard one card to the discard pile. 10910 1139-001-004

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